AP: Texas

09/21/2005

Associated Press

Three Texans were named Wednesday to a commission Republicans created to review local, state and federal response to Hurricane Katrina. Democrats say the panel is a sham.

Reps. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Henry Bonilla of San Antonio and Mac Thornberry of Clarendon were named to the panel that has been billed as bipartisan and bicameral.

The three were named as Hurricane Rita threatened the Texas coast.

"I believe it's important that we take an honest look at where the system failed, at what levels and what points and make any necessary adjustments immediately," Granger said in a statement.

Republicans announced they would form the committee soon after returning from their summer recess to deal with the Katrina disaster. But Democrats have insisted on an independent commission like the 9/11 Commission that reviewed the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Brendan Daly, a spokesman for Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, said the commission review would be a "whitewash" and Pelosi does not plan to appoint Democrats to the panel. "She thinks it's a sham," Daly said.

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who called for the commission, has said Congress is obligated to carry out its oversight responsibilities.

The committee will be chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va. Other Republicans named to the committee are Reps. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee; Harold Rogers of Kentucky; Christopher Shays of Connecticut; Steve Buyer of Indiana; Sue Myrick of North Carolina; Charles Pickering of Mississippi and Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania.

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AUSTIN — Farmers and ranchers need to take precautions to protect their animals and equipment as Hurricane Rita approaches, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs said Wednesday.

She said livestock should be moved away from the path of Rita, which is expected to slam the Texas coast this weekend.

The Texas Animal Health Commission has a list of facilities across the state accepting livestock and pets from hurricane evacuees. Details on the facilities were available by calling (800) 550-8242.

Combs also said farmers should secure or remove any object that could become blowing debris, such as trailers or propane tanks. Boats, feed troughs or other large containers should be filled with water to provide stability, she added.

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HOUSTON (AP) — Banks, oil refineries, offices and shops along the Texas Gulf coast began shutting down Wednesday so employees could flee from Hurricane Rita, which was expected to hit the state coastline Saturday.

In many cases, companies had the decision made for them. Residents of Galveston County, parts of Houston and islands around Corpus Christi were ordered to evacuate, and Gov. Rick Perry urged people along the southeast Texas coast to move inland.

Frost Bank said it closed many locations in Houston, Galveston and Corpus Christi. Some were in areas covered by mandatory evacuations.

Marathon Oil Corp. closed a refinery in Texas City and its headquarters in Houston, about 40 miles away and inland. El Paso Corp. planned to close its Houston headquarters to all but essential employees Thursday and Friday.

Lyondell Chemical Corp. began closing two plants near Houston and preparing others for possible shutdown, although small crews will stay behind to monitor the equipment during the storm, said spokesman David Harpole.

Many businesses worried about keeping in touch with employees and customers during a disaster.

The Houston law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski convened its disaster recovery team to plan for keeping communications working in a disaster, including testing a computerized system that automatically phones employees with recorded updates.

Continental Airlines Inc., based in Houston, said Wednesday it was maintaining normal operations and would decide what to do about Rita on Thursday afternoon. It said customers whose travel in Texas or Louisiana the next few days could reschedule once without penalty.

The hurricane meant more work for some businesses.

Houston-based VeriCenter, which backs up computer data for businesses, was seeing "a significant uptick," Chief Executive Gray Hall told the Houston Chronicle.

"In the last couple of days, a lot of Houston businesses are implementing their disaster recovery plans and asking us to help them," he said.

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HUNTSVILLE (AP) — More than 5,000 inmates from five state prisons were being evacuated Wednesday as Hurricane Rita approached the Texas Gulf Coast. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice ordered the following units evacuated:

_ 1,098 inmates from the Scott Unit in Angleton were moving to the Ellis Unit in Huntsville and the Ferguson Unit in Midway.

_ 1,132 inmates in Clemens Unit in Brazoria were moving to the Hightower Unit in Dayton, Wynne Unit in Huntsville and Estelle Unit in Huntsville.

_ 1,572 inmates from the Terrell Unit in Rosharon were moving to the Lewis Unit in Woodville, Polunsky Unit in Livingston and the Eastham Unit in Lovelady.

_ 1,082 inmates in Jester III Unit in Richmond were moving to the Jester IV Unit in Richmond, Jester I Unit in Richmond and the Central Unit in Sugar Land.

_ Approximately 400 in the Young Unit in Texas City were moving to Plane State Jail in Dayton, Gatesville Unit in Gatesville and the Estelle Unit in Huntsville.

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NEW YORK (AP) — A joint effort by former presidents Bush and Clinton to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina produced more than $96 million in donations, the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund announced Wednesday.

In addition to $6 million in online donations from 37,000 people, more than $90 million came from corporate contributions and large gifts from individuals.

The aim of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund is to assist in the recovery plan for the affected states, working mostly with the governors of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. But the money will also go to national and local relief organizations working directly with those affected, especially for needs facing funding gaps.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Pet owners were being urged to take their animals as they flee from Hurricane Rita.

The Humane Society has agreements with federal and state agencies and private organizations to provide disaster response services. Along with the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Texas Animal Control Association, and private organizations, the Humane Society also is trying to establish staging areas and temporary pet shelters.

The Humane Society suggested checking whether friends and family outside the storm-affected areas can shelter pets. Many evacuation shelters don't accept animals, but some hotels and motels lift such restrictions in emergencies.

Pet owners also should pack a supply kit for their animals that includes a three-day supply of food and water, sturdy leashes and harnesses, blankets and updated identification tags with an out-of-area contact.

Humane Society officials say they launched an extensive animal rescue effort when Hurricane Katrina hit since residents abandoned thousands of pets. Residents were reportedly told to leave their pets behind and return for them in a few days, the Humane Society said.

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DALLAS (AP) — Some Dallas-area hotels are offering lower rates to people evacuating because of Hurricane Katrina.

Members of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas announced the special rates Wednesday. Room rates will range from $59 to $99 at participating hotels. To receive the discounted prices, lodgers must show a driver's license with an address in an area affected by the storm.

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AUSTIN (AP) — Attorney General Greg Abbott warned about bogus charity workers and price gouging and other potential fraud as Hurricane Rita approached coastal Texas on Wednesday. Among the AG's warnings:

_ Be wary of specials and cheap work.

_ Contact your insurance adjuster to get an estimate of any damage and cost of repair.

_ Don't rush into signing contracts and never pay upfront for promised work.

_ Avoid door-to-door solicitors for damage repair work.

_ Get warranties in writing.

Abbott said his office would pursue businesses that overcharge for goods and services such as lodging, gasoline, rental vehicles, building materials and groceries.

To report a problem, call the AG's office at: 1-800-252-8011.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Testing for the ACT college admission and placement exam on Saturday and Sunday was postponed at some Texas sites due to Hurricane Rita.

Students registered to take the test at the affected sites over the weekend will receive makeup instruction and dates. Makeup testing dates have not yet been announced.

If students can't attend the makeup date, they may reschedule for any available testing site on any regularly scheduled national test date at no additional charge.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers introduced legislation Wednesday to limit the liability of volunteers working on disaster recovery efforts.

The Good Samaritan Liability Improvement and Volunteer Encouragement Act of 2005 would provide special protections for disaster relief workers. Those include allowing professionals to volunteer using licenses from their home state regardless of where a disaster occurred and protecting volunteers who aren't working for a specific nonprofit organization from liability.

Under the act, nonprofits wouldn't be held liable for acts committed by their volunteers unless the organization willfully disregarded or was recklessly indifferent. Also, donors of goods and equipment wouldn't be responsible for harm caused by donating those items unless they were reckless.

"This legislation ensures that as preparations for Hurricane Rita and recovery from Hurricane Katrina continue, the thousands of volunteers who respond won't be fearful of frivolous litigation when they want to help a neighbor in need," U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "So I hope this bill will encourage further volunteer efforts in our nation, and facilitate the generosity of the American people to assist in disaster responses."

Co-sponsors include Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas; Trent Lott, R-Miss.; David Vitter, R-La.; Charles Grassley, R-Iowa; and John Thune, R-S.D.